Kelowna MLAs see cabinet changes

Jennifer Stahn

In the unveiling of the new B.C. cabinet today it was announced Steve Thomson (left) remains as minister of forests, lands and natural resource operations while Norm Letnick (right) no longer holds a portfolio.

(JULIE WHITTET /InfoTel Multimedia)

June 07, 2013 - 4:59 PM

KELOWNA - The new B.C. cabinet was announced this afternoon and out of the 19 ministers appointed to the cabinet only a few join Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson in keeping their previous portfolios.

Norm Letnick, Kelowna-Lake Country, has lost his role as a cabinet minister. Formerly in charge of agriculture, Letnick is replaced by Pat Pimm of Peace River North.

Among the new ministries created were ministry of natural gas development, ministry of technology, innovation and citizen services and the ministry of international trade, Asia-Pacific strategy and multiculturalism.

Rich Coleman, Fort Langley-Aldergrove, will remain as the deputy premier and minister in charge of housing, but will also take on the role of natural gas development minister. Mike de Jong, Abbotsford-West will stay in the role of minister of finance and house leader. Stephanie Cadieux, Surrey-Cloverdale, is the only other minister seeing an unchanged portfolio and will oversee the ministry of children and family development. In total six other ministers remain ministers but with different portfolios this time.

The Southern Interior will also be represented by Kamloops MLAs Terry Lake and Todd Stone. Lake has moved from environment to health while Stone takes on the role of transportation and infrastructure minister.

To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca,c all (250)819-3723 or message through Twitter @JennStahn.

OPINION Editor, This is a busy time of year, but I find it’s also a time of reflection, particularly as January marks the end of my two-year term as Chair and my 10 years serving on the Board of Interior